pensions

Inside Higher Ed reports that the University of Texas is investing part of its portfolio in gold, ostensibly as a hedge against inflation. It is unlikely that UC will follow that route. As the article notes, a possible explanation for the U of Texas decision is the idea favored in conservative circles – and particularly enhanced by Glenn Beck’s promotion of gold sales on Fox – that the US economy is about to experience a wave of inflation. There is in fact an indicator of what financial markets expect in the way of inflation over the next decade. The difference…

The following letter about the impending recommendations of the Post-Employment Benefits Task Force was emailed today. It is reproduced below for anyone who may not have received the email and to provide a continuing source of the text. Some parts have been put in bold in the reproduction below.=================== UCOP NewsSent: Thursday, August 26, 2010 11:23 AM To: UCOP-L@LISTSERV.UCOP.EDU Subject: A letter from President Yudof regarding proposed changes to UC retirement benefits Importance: High MEMBERS, UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA COMMUNITY Dear Colleagues: I am writing to let you know that within the next few days, the Task Force on Post-Employment Benefits…

From http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?xid=z2hom7ay9rt20f# The call for pension reform received an unexpected boost from an unlikely source this week — former Gov. Gray Davis. In an interview with Reuters, Davis said reforms advocated by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will make it easier for whomever holds the job next, and he praised Schwarzenegger for pushing for changes in the state pension system — changes that Davis said were now inevitable. “With … the open primary and redistricting reform, at least 20% of the Legislature will have its interests properly aligned, and they will be punished [by voters] if they don’t solve big problems,” he…

From the LA Times today at http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0818-pension-reform-20100818,0,3115924,print.story comes the word that a pension “spiking” reform bill has been watered down. The governor says he won’t sign it. Such a bill might have defused some of the tension and controversy around the public pension area – which could easily lead to a ballot initiative that would encompass UC’s pension. This development underlines the need – emphasized in prior posts – for the Regents to have a plan for UC in place by January. Note: “Spiking” refers to an ability by employees to inflate final earnings for the pension calculation by adding…

While the article below refers only to CalPERS and CalSTRS, as has been noted in prior posts, UC is in danger of having its pension system covered by some sweeping initiative that would cover all public pensions in California. A new governor takes office in early January 2011. Unless UC has a plan of its own – and unless the Regents push for UC autonomy as other statewide policies are debated – the consequences could be unfortunate. Note part in bold italics below. — Pension reform: Brown picks up where he left off (excerpts) By Ed Mendel calpensions.com 7/31/10 In…